“I’m not sick,” I wave a dismissive hand, trying to ingore our proximity “Just soggy and tired.” “And running on stubbornness,” He sighs aloofly “You might want to hold on, My Lady. Unless you enjoy falling on your face.” i narrow my eyes at him “You— He starts moving before I can say anything. I
This place is a lot bigger than I originally thought. “Alright then,” I get to my feet “Let’s go.” At this, Sigmond— Zen, raises his brows at me “Are you sure you do not wish to tend to yourself first, My Lady? You might want to wash your face with cold water to avoid more swelling.” I grimace. W
By the time I wake up, it’s dark. I scramble out of bed, blinking bewildered at the window. Did I just sleep through the entire day?! Slightly disheveled and definitely disoriented, I open the bolts of the room and hurry down the stairs. This time, I easily find the kitchen— dining room! From the
Excommunicated? Like banished? But wouldn’t a church like people who hunt witches? Questions barge into my head, but I hold my tongue. It’s really not my business, and I can tell Zen doesn’t enjoy talking about the church. “I didn’t expect to sleep for so long,” I say, redirecting the conversation
“Why’d we slow down?” I look back at him, breathing a little hard “There are a few Lynx nearby,” Zen says, as composed as he was when we left. If it weren’t for his windswept hair, I’d think he hadn’t been on a galloping horse “I doubt they would approach, but I’d rather avoid it. We’ll have to be
“The bar owner also worked as the head bartender,” I smile as I recall Mr. Geoffrey’s permanently unimpressed look “I was the only girl there, and he warned me the bar could get pretty rowdy at times.” “One time, an already drunk customer got mad that I messed up his drink,” I huff. I had given him
“Are you alright?” “I’m fine,” I manage to get out, holding up a hand “Just give me a moment.” We reached the city after nearly two hours on a horse that was running for its life. And only after Zen helped me get down from the saddle, did I realize I cant feel my legs. At the moment, Sparrow huff
“Zepherin!” He says good-naturedly “What a pleasant surprise!” I gape at them as the old man shakes Zen's hand with ethusiasm. Everything I ever thought I knew about old people is a lie. “I would’ve come in the day,” Zen says calmly “But circumstances forced my hand. I need a favor, Rudolf.” Mr.
I barely manage to find a waste bucket before everything I had for breakfast retches out. My throat burns. My vision is blurry. I dry heave every single thing in my stomach, warmth seeps out of the corners of my eyes. I can’t breathe. The smell of blood is everywhere. I sit there, holding the edges
The smell of rotting flesh is disgusting. Its muscle memory to pull the gloves over my hands, pick a scalpel off the medical tray. The body on the metal table in front of me has no head. ‘You have to take a sample of flesh, a sample of blood and take a look at the internal organs.’ Aunt Cynthia’s
How adorable. Apparently, I’m the only one who thinks so, since when I turn back around, everyone from the fourth prince and the first order to passing strangers and our coachman is looking on in disbelief. Is it so difficult to imagine Zen would get along with children? “Don’t leave your mouth ha
“My Lady, am I mistaken or is the fourth prince avoiding me?” I look up from knotting the satchel to my belt to face Zen. There’s a slight furrow in his brows, and he looks at Lukas, standing far, far from us and talking with the first order soldiers. The fourth prince has indeed, been avoiding Ze
I need to move. But even as I think that, I cant bring myself to move. He’s holding me too firmly, I think, entirely reasonable. I won’t be able to slip away like this. Even the most critical part of me can’t find that to be entirely an excuse. After last night, I doubt there’s anyone who would lik
I wake up to the sound of a door knock. My sleep hazed brain registers the sound, recognizes it, and promptly ignores it in favor of cuddling into the warmth of my bed once more. I don’t want to wake up just yet, since last night I fell asleep so late— Last night? My eyes open, blurry with sleep,
But he’s looking at me now, as if the answer might crush him, as if he’s bracing himself for it. I reach out to drape my arms over his shoulders gently, they hang down in front of his chest lightly. “Why? Because you did your job?” I ask quietly, hold his gaze “Or because you didn’t hesitate to do
“Lift your arm, please.” I say, and my voice comes out soft If we weren’t sitting so close to each other, I would’ve missed it. His shoulders tense up, the even breathing stilled into nothing. “You don’t have to do that, Dinah.” Zen finally says My brows furrow. Zen might be a warrior among warri
On the second floor hallway of the hotel, my eyes drift to the room where Zen is supposed to be. My room is just at its side. I wonder if I knock on his door right now, would he be annoyed? He did ask not to be disturbed. The image of his bloodied arm flashes in my mind. Just a moment. I just want